The US-led occupation of Afghanistan has transformed the once-reviled Taliban into freedom fighters for the Pashtun people Mustafa Qadri guardian.co.uk They may be repressive fanatics who enslave women and give sanctuary to al-Qaida, but the US-led occupation of Afghanistan has transformed the Taliban into Pashtun freedom fighters. There are two principal reasons for this. First, despite our best attempts, the foreign troops and the state they prop up are viewed as outsiders who have come not to liberate the country but subjugate it. Second, so long as our presence in Afghanistan is primarily military, our relationship to ordinary Afghans will … Continue reading Taliban: the indistinguishable enemy?

Why I want to lead the Labour party I joined Labour because it championed people’s aspirations. It can do again, but we must reconnect our values with their hopes Ed Miliband guardian.co.uk Ed Milliband, who today launched his bid for the Labour party leadership, photographed in September 2009. Photograph: Martin Argles/Guardian This has been a depressing week for everyone in the Labour party and all who believe in a fairer Britain. We need to face uncomfortable truths: we lost the election and it was a bad result. Despite the hard work that was done, this is the second worst result … Continue reading Ed Miliband: I want to lead the Labour party

ANALYSIS: Strategic mess —Mir Mohammad Ali Talpur The people who are the true ‘strategic assets’ are neglected by the ruling elite, who go for delusionary ‘strategic assets’ and ‘strategic depth’ and invariably end up in a ‘strategic mess’ “A people living under the perpetual menace of war and invasion is very easy to govern. It demands no social reforms. It does not haggle over expenditures on armaments and military equipment. It pays without discussion. It ruins itself; and that is an excellent thing for the syndicates of financiers and manufacturers for whom patriotic terrors are an abundant source of gain” … Continue reading People who are the true ‘strategic assets’ are neglected by the ruling elite

Smokers’ Corner: The sinking middle-ground Nadeem F. Paracha dawn.com The most convenient understanding of the phenomenon of Pakistani extremists that one hears being echoed from TV studios suggests that young Pakistanis turning into religious fanatics has something to do with illiteracy and unemployment. Though not entirely incorrect, this notion however is a complacent explanation. It fails to explain the emergence of young religious extremists such as Omar Shaikh (involved in the murder of American journalist, Daniel Pearl); Shahzad Tanveer and Hasib Hussain (7/7 UK bombers); and recently, Faisal Shahzad (the failed Times Square bomber). Each one of these young men … Continue reading Booby Fanatics!

Abolish Belgium? From the desk of Paul Belien In the early 1990s, following the fall of Communism, the Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia fell apart. Today, the federal Kingdom of Belgium, the last of Europe’s multinational states, is beginning to unravel. In 1830-31, the international powers put Belgium together as a political compromise and an experiment in building one state out of two nationalities. The country is home to 6 million Dutch-speakers in Flanders, its northern half bordering the Netherlands, 3 million French-speakers in Wallonia, its southern half bordering France, and 1 million people in its capital Brussels, an enclave … Continue reading ABOLISH BELGIUM – ITS ARTIFICIAL ANYWAY!

Cameron and Clegg: what is their body language really saying? David Cameron and Nick Clegg look alike, sound alike, and come from equally privileged backgrounds – but just how similar are they in reality? Leading body language expert James Borg scrutinised the new Prime Minister and his deputy during their crucial first few days in office. Here, he reveals the unspoken signs By James Borg Published: 3:15PM BST 15 May 2010 Previous 1 of 5 Images Next Conservative leader David Cameron and Liberal Democrats leader Nick Clegg on the steps of 10 Downing Street on Wednesday Prime Minister David Cameron (R) and Deputy … Continue reading The Two ‘C’s: what is their body language really saying?

A Miliband battle may hurt Labour David and Ed Miliband are worthy contenders for Labour leader, but the party may suffer from such a narrow choice Tom Clark guardian.co.uk Labour’s band of brothers: Ed Miliband and David Miliband at the launch of a Labour poster campaign, 3 April 2010. Photograph: Nick Ansell/PA Well, if the Sun’s got it right, the Labour leadership election will indeed be a family affair along the lines I was musing on earlier this week. The newspaper reports that young Ed Miliband is preparing to challenge his slightly older brother, David, who has already confirmed that … Continue reading David and Ed Miliband are worthy contenders for Labour leader, but the Labour party may suffer from such a narrow choice

Don’t take offence at our coalition. Its aims are liberal A Lib-Con deal was the only responsible choice. And our shared aim is to build a fairer society by a radical dispersal of power <!–Topsy–> Nick Clegg guardian.co.uk The third runway at Heathrow has been cancelled. ID cards have been scrapped. There will be no more child detention. And reform is now under way to make taxes fair for millions of ordinary people. These are some of the early achievements of a government that had its first cabinet meeting just two days ago. A new government but, more important, a … Continue reading Don’t take offence at our coalition. It is the best choice!

VIEW: Media matters —Naeem Tahir The media anchorpersons seem to have recovered from the euphoria of democracy and started looking at the needs of the people. Perhaps there is a realisation that all systems, concepts, including democracy, are, after all, intended for the betterment of the people Since coming out of the bottle, the media genie has continued its non-stop attacks. It got its freedom during the times of President Pervez Musharraf. Then the genie looked around and found its favourite prey, Musharraf himself. To its delight, the last years of Musharraf also provided opportunities to the media genie to … Continue reading Media matters in Pakistan

VIEW: After Thimphu —Radha Kumar It would help Afghanistan if India were able to convince Pakistan that its intentions in Afghanistan are not mala fide, just as it would help if Pakistan were to convince India that it is opposed to Afghanistan’s being used for terrorist attacks on India and Indians The announcement that the foreign ministers of India and Pakistan will meet in July is a welcome follow-up to the talks between Prime Ministers Singh and Gilani at the recent SAARC Summit in Thimphu. But it is still not certain whether they will match in substance the peace process … Continue reading It would help Afghanistan if India were able to convince Pakistan that its intentions in Afghanistan are not mala fide,